About Riaan Ras Knives

In the 1990s, I started creating knives using simple tools. A Fairbairn and Sykes fighting knife was my very first blade.
In June 2014, I constructed a belt grinder using information I learned online and taught myself how to make knives using videos on YouTube.

I began attempting to create the ideal knife. A Barlow is my favorite type of slip joint to create.

I joined the Cape Knifemakers Guild in 2019.

The goal of a custom knife is to produce something that is outstanding in terms of design, material selection, and production technique.
A knifemaker has the duty to make the best use of the materials offered to the buyer and to combine them into a blade that serves as both an investment and a useful tool.
Each component is manually machined, polished, and carefully fitted in a manner of craftsmanship and aesthetics uncommon in an age of mass manufacturing.

Making knives is a challenging hobby that I really enjoy.